Apple Starts Pulling CallKit Apps from Chinese App Store

Apple china

In order to comply with the newly enforced regulation from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Apple has started removing apps that use the CallKit framework from the Chinese App Store, 9to5Mac is reporting. Apple is also sending notices to to developers who offer apps in China with CallKit integration. 

“The notice explains that apps cannot offer CallKit functionality in China due to government regulations. In order for developers to make their application available on the China App Store, they must remove that CallKit integration. Alternatively, they can remove the application from China altogether.”

Apple was forced to remove VPN applications from the Chinese App Store last year and now, it is removing apps with CallKit integration to comply with local laws. The company faced criticism from U.S. lawmakers for the move last summer, who criticized Apple for conforming so quickly to a request from the Chinese government.

For those who aren’t familiar, CallKit lets developers integrate their calling services with other call-related apps on the system. It provides the calling interface, while developers handle the back-end communication with their VoIP service.

While the company should only be cracking down on apps that integrate the CallKit framework, the source says apps that use the feature only to pause audio for an incoming call are also being pulled.

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